Overview
This unit will guide you through the process of writing an academic essay. You will be introduced to the culture of academic writing at university and the common features of academic essays. You will develop strategies to read, evaluate and summarise information, and then use that information to develop and support an academic argument. Throughout the unit, you will develop critical thinking, note-making, formal writing and referencing skills necessary for academic writing.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 3 - 2024
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Non-award unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Teaching team
Students benefit from reflective practice and guidance on the use of feedback.
Add the requirement of a guided short reflection to the final assessment so students can reflect on their previous feedback and how they have applied it.
Feedback from Teaching team
Students value active public forums that provide opportunities to ask questions and communicate with other students and tutors.
Update and streamline the Student Forum on Moodle.
Feedback from Teaching team
Students value assessment rubrics that are clear and that support skill development across the term.
Update and align the Assessment 2 and Assessment 3 rubrics.
- Evaluate information for relevance, authority, objectivity and currency
- Paraphrase, quote and summarise information using appropriate referencing conventions
- Plan and write an academic essay that integrates sources to support a reasoned argument.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Annotated bibliography - 20% | |||
| 2 - Portfolio - 30% | |||
| 3 - Essay - 50% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Self Management | |||
| 2 - Communication | |||
| 3 - Information Literacy | |||
| 4 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 5 - Problem Solving | |||
| 6 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 7 - Cross-Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical Practice | |||
| 9 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| 1 - Annotated bibliography - 20% | |||||||||
| 2 - Portfolio - 30% | |||||||||
| 3 - Essay - 50% | |||||||||
Textbooks
Essay Writing for University (LNGE40049)
Edition: 11 (2022)
Authors: School of Access Education
CQUniversity Publishing Unit
Rockhampton Rockhampton , QLD , Australia
ISBN: N/A
Binding: Spiral
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
c.mccormack@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Pen to paper
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Events and Submissions/Topic
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Critical reading
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Referring to the ideas of others
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Citations and the reference list
Chapter
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Finding information
Chapter
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The structure of effective essays
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From plan to paragraph
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Chapter
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Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
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Polishing paragraphs
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
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Variations to paragraph structure
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
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Introductions and conclusions
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
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Editing and preparing your essay for submission
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
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Submitting your essay and reflecting on your progress
Chapter
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Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Unit Coordinator: Dr Cody McCormack
Email: c.mccormack@cqu.edu.au
Telephone: (07) 4940 7887
1 Annotated bibliography
Purpose: The assessments in this unit contribute towards the development of an essay due at the end of the term. The purpose of the annotated bibliography is for you to read, summarise and evaluate potential sources for your essay. By completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your summarising, paraphrasing and referencing skills as well as your ability to apply critical thinking to the evaluation of the sources related to the essay question.
Length: 250 words (+/- 10%) for each annotation. The Notes section and list of references of this assessment are not included in the word count.
Week 5 Tuesday (3 Dec 2024) 9:00 am AEST
Week 7 Tuesday (17 Dec 2024)
Assessment 1 will be returned via the unit Moodle site two (2) weeks after the due date or date submitted, whichever is later.
- Summary
- Evaluation
- Language
- Referencing
- Notes.
- Evaluate information for relevance, authority, objectivity and currency
- Paraphrase, quote and summarise information using appropriate referencing conventions
- Information Literacy
- Critical Thinking
2 Portfolio
Task: Using the topic you chose in Assessment 1, write a thesis statement and construct the body paragraph plans for an essay using the paragraph planner template. Your supporting evidence in the template can be written in dot point form, but your topic sentence and concluding sentence must be written as full sentences. Write one polished body paragraph from your plans and create a reference list. Use at least eight sources of information. One of these sources MUST come from the EWU e-reading list, but you can use all the sources from that list if you wish. You will need to do a CQUniversity Library search for the rest of the sources you will use in your essay plan.
Purpose: This task requires you to do research for your essay and begin the writing process. By completing this assessment, you will demonstrate that you have a clear direction for your final essay. This assessment will provide feedback that will assist you to improve your final essay (Assessment 3).
Length:
- There is no specified word count for the body paragraph plans; see the example Assessment 2 provided for an indication of the level of detail required.
- The ‘polished’ paragraph should be approximately 250 words (the word count includes in-text citations).
- The reference list must contain a minimum of eight sources in total.
Week 9 Tuesday (14 Jan 2025) 9:00 am AEST
Week 11 Tuesday (28 Jan 2025)
Assessment 2 will be returned via the unit Moodle site two (2) weeks after the due date or date submitted, whichever is later.
- Content
- Structure and synthesis
- Referencing
- Language
- Paraphrase, quote and summarise information using appropriate referencing conventions
- Plan and write an academic essay that integrates sources to support a reasoned argument.
- Communication
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Critical Thinking
- Ethical Practice
3 Essay
Task: Write an essay that addresses one of the essay topic options provided on the unit Moodle site. Your thesis statement should state your position on this topic and your argument/s must be supported with evidence from credible sources cited in Harvard referencing style.
Note: You are also required to write a short reflection on your use of the feedback you received on Assessment 2: Essay Portfolio.
Purpose: This task requires you to complete the process of finding, reading and critically evaluating information to develop a reasoned academic essay supported by credible evidence. In doing so, you will develop your critical thinking, note-making, writing and referencing skills, and deepen your understanding of the research/writing process.
Length:
Essay: 1200 -1400 words. Your essay must fall within this range. The word count includes in-text citations but does not include the Reference list. The Reference list must contain a minimum of eight sources, including one source from the e-reading list. Every source in your reference list must be cited somewhere in your essay.
Short Reflection: 50 - 100 words.
Exam Week Tuesday (11 Feb 2025) 9:00 am AEST
Results will be available prior to the Certification of Grades.
- Content
- Structure and Synthesis
- Language
- Referencing.
- Paraphrase, quote and summarise information using appropriate referencing conventions
- Plan and write an academic essay that integrates sources to support a reasoned argument.
- Communication
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Critical Thinking
- Ethical Practice
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
